Europa League round-up: Mario Balotelli strikes again but ends up on losing team against Krasnodar

MARIO BALOTELLI carried on his rich form in-front of goal as he netted his fifth goal for new club Nice.

Scoring more goals for his new side in four games than he did for Liverpool, he couldn’t help the French team to beat tough Russian team FC Krasnodar as they lost 5-2.

Subbed at half-time, the maverick was nearly sick on the pitch shortly after his goal which left his manager no choice but to take him off.

Nice were always chasing the game, and two goals from Brazilian from Joaozinho either side of the Italian forward’s strike was enough to clinch the three points.

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Southampton’s four-match winning streak came to an end away in Israel as they were held to a goalless draw to Hapoel Be’er Sheva.

Virgil Van Dijk squandered the Saints best chance of the match as headed wide from James Ward-Prowse’s free-kick four minutes into the game.

Both teams looked happy to play for the point in an uninspiring encounter.

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Four-time European Champions Ajax beat Belgian side Standard Liege 1-0 thanks to a first half strike from 18-year-old sensation Kasper Dolberg.

That was the teenage forward’s fifth goal this season, cooling slotting the ball in the corner of the goal courtesy of Chelsea-loanee Bertrand Traore’s assist.

EPA

Italian side Fiorentina ran out easy 5-1 winners over Azerbaijani minnows Qarabag FK in Florence.

Two former Premier League players got on the score-sheet thanks to strikes from ex-Blackburn Rovers striker Nikola Kalinic and a double from West Ham's fan favourite Maura Zarate.

Khouma Babacar also helped himself to a brace as the away side were restricted to ten-men for 60 minutes.

Qarabag hit a late consolation in the 91st minute through Peter Ndlovu.

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Inter Milan fail to hit the heights yet again as they lost 3-1 away in Czech Republic to Sparta Prague.

The 2010 Champions League winners finished the game with ten-men after Vaclac Kadlec scored a first half brace before Rodrigo Palacio pulled one back.

Just a minute after Andrea Ranocchia was shown a second yellow, Mario Holek put the game to bed in the 76th minute with a header from close range.

AP:Associated Press

EPA

Zlatan Ibrahimovic ended his run of four Manchester United games without a goal as he scored the winner as United won 1-0 against Ukrainian side FC Zorya.

In a game with few real chances, the English side scored with their first shot on target, the big Swede heading in from close range from a Rooney shot.

Zorya should have taken the lead when Zeljko Ljubenovic failed to hit the target from inside the box.

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Italian side Roma cruised to a 4-0 home victory against Romanian outfit FC Astra.

Kevin Strootman and ex-Chelsea winger Mohamed Salah were among the scorers as it proved to be an easy night in Rome.

40-year-old club legend Francesco Totti chipped in with two assists.

EPA

Ireland's Dundalk recorded their first ever European group stage win when they beat Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 thanks to a historic strike from Ciaran Kilduff.

The striker scored from close range made possible from a brilliant cross by Daryl Horgan.

After drawing 1-1 away at AZ Alkmaar last match, the second half strike sent his side into jubilation.

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Turkish giants Fenerbache beat run-away leaders of the Eredivisie Feyenoord 1-0 courtesy of a strike from West Ham flop Emmanuel Emenike.

Collecting the ball inside the box, the Nigerian forward slotted the ball in the bottom left corner from the right hand side of the box.

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